The following is a list of events scheduled for Friday, March 19:

• High School - Spring Musical - Mars Area High School will present its production of the musical, No, No, Nanette, at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium. Tickets are $7 for reserved seating. For more information, call (724) 625-1581.

The following is a list of events scheduled for Saturday, March 20:

• Middle School - Spring Craft Show - Mars Lady Planet Softball Boosters will offer its second annual Softball Craft Show from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Mars Area Middle School. For details, call (724) 933-0153 or send an e-mail to marssoftballcraftshow@yahoo.com.
  
• High School - Spring Musical - Mars Area High School will present its production of the musical, No, No, Nanette, at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium. Tickets are $7 for reserved seating. For more information, call (724) 625-1581.

The following is a list of events scheduled for Monday, March 22:

• Elementary School - PTO Scholastic Book Fair - Mars Area Elementary PTO will offer a Scholastic Book Fair at Mars Area Elementary School. For more information, call (724) 625-3161.

The following is a list of events scheduled for Tuesday, March 23:

• Elementary School - PTO Scholastic Book Fair - Mars Area Elementary PTO will offer a Scholastic Book Fair at Mars Area Elementary School. For more information, call (724) 625-3161.
• High School - Boys Varsity Hockey PIHL Penguins Cup (Semifinals) - Mars Area High School's Boys Varsity Hockey Team will take on the Bishop McCort Crushers in the semifinals of the 2010 PIHL Class A Penguins Cup Championship Series at 5 p.m. at Mellon Arena. The Fightin' Planets defeated the Quaker Valley Quakers 7-2 in the quarterfinal round of the Penguins Cup playoffs on March 17. For more information, visit www.pihlweb.com.

The following is a list of events scheduled for Wednesday, March 24:

• Elementary School - PTO Scholastic Book Fair - Mars Area Elementary PTO will offer a Scholastic Book Fair at Mars Area Elementary School. For more information, call (724) 625-3161.
• Centennial School - Parent Coffee Talk - Mars Area Centennial School will offer a Parent Coffee Talk workshop from 9 to 10 a.m. in the library. Topic will be "Don't Stress the Test!" The program will offer ideas to relieve students' stress at home. For more information, call (724) 625-2601.

The following is a list of events scheduled for Thursday, March 25:

• Elementary School - PTO Scholastic Book Fair - Mars Area Elementary PTO will offer a Scholastic Book Fair at Mars Area Elementary School. For more information, call (724) 625-3161.
• High School - Prom Promise Fashion Show - Mars Area High School will offer its annual Prom Promise Fashion Show at 9 a.m. in the auditorium. This year's theme is "Oasis." Students in the high school's REACH (Responsible Educated Adolescents Can Help) program will model the latest in prom gowns and tuxedos. For more information, call (724) 625-1581.
• Elementary School - Family Literacy Night - Mars Area Elementary School will hold its annual Family Literacy Night from 6:15 to 8 p.m. The event will begin with a skit performed by teachers, followed by various reading and literacy activities. For more information, call (724) 625-3161.

The following is a list of events scheduled for Friday, March 26:

• Elementary School - "Meet the Symphony" Field Trip - Second-graders at Mars Area Elementary School will take a field trip to see the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra at 10:30 a.m. The "Meet the Symphony" program will introduce students to the variety of instruments used by orchestra members. For more information, call (724) 625-3161.

For more information regarding upcoming dates specific to each school building, please visit the individual school's page and click on the "Announcements" link. For a complete list of upcoming dates at all schools, please refer to the "District Calendar" link on this page or click here.

• THE ALLIANCE - "PREVENTION VIDEO OF THE MONTH" PROGRAM" - Mars Area School District is participating in a "Prevention Video of the Month" program, held in partnership with The Alliance and the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office. The program offers a series of parent and community education videos, which may be viewed at The Alliance's Web site, www.drug-alliance.org, via the "Multimedia" link. Note: A high-speed Internet connection is required to view the videos. Parents may also download talking points for each video and may participate in discussion blogs. For more information, click here.

• ROUTE 228 UPDATE - Information regarding proposed and planned improvements to the Route 228 corridor is available online at the Route 228 Regional Corridor Alliance (RCA) Web site. For more information, visit www.228update.com.

• THREE RIVERS ROWING ASSOCIATION JUNIOR TEAM - Three Rivers Rowing Association Junior Team is seeking new members. The team, which is open to students in eighth through 12th grades, meets from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Races are held in fall, winter and spring. For more information, visit www.threeriversrowing.org/r-trrayouth.html.
  
  
• PENNSYLVANIA'S PROMISE FOR CHILDREN - Butler County Early Education Care & Community Council offers simple ways to make early education a reality for young children. For more information about early childhood education, click here . For more information, visit www.papromiseforchildren.com or click here.
  
  
• GIRL SCOUT LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE - The Girl Scouts of the Mars Area are seeking girls in kindergarten through 12th grade interested in participating in the The New Girl Scout Leadership Experience . For more information, visit www.trefoilscouts.org.

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• 2010-2011 SCHOOL CALENDAR - Mars Area School Board adopted the District's 2010-2011 School Calendar. The calendar sets the first day of school on Tuesday, Sept. 7, and the last day of school on Tuesday, June 14. The late start date is because of construction and renovations at Mars Area High School. For more information or to view the calendar, click here.

• AYP ACHIEVEMENT RECOGNITION - Each of Mars Area School District's five schools were recognized by the Pennsylvania Department of Education for achieving Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for two consecutive years. Mars Area Primary Center, Mars Area Elementary School, Mars Area Centennial School, Mars Area Middle School and Mars Area High School each attained AYP during the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 school years. For more information about AYP, click here.

• HIGH SCHOOL - CONSTRUCTION PROJECT - Construction on the Mars Area High School renovation and expansion project will begin immediately following the end of the 2008-2009 school year. For more information, click here.

• HELP WANTED - CAFETERIA ASSISTANTS - Mars Area School District is seeking reliable individuals to work as cafeteria assistants for several hours a day while school is in session. For more information, contact Lori Kennedy at (724) 625-1518, ext. 2, or for information about the application process, click here.   

• 2010-2011 IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS - New school immunization regulations, which have yet to be enacted into law, are expected to be implemented at the start of the 2010-2011 school year. Mars Area School District sent a letter home to parents on Feb. 23 outlining the new requirements. To view the letter, click here.

• 2010 YEARBOOK SALES/PERSONAL ADS - Mars Area High School is taking orders for the 2010 Planet Yearbook through Friday, March 19. Cost is $65 for underclassmen and $65 for seniors. For an order form, click here. Personal ads may also be purchased for an additional cost. For a personal ad order form, click here.

• WALKING AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - Mars Area Elementary School is open to walkers from 6 to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday, until Friday, April 30. Note: Walking will not be available when school is not in session or when school is closed because of inclement weather. For more information, call (724) 625-3161.

• NOVEL H1N1 INFLUENZA - CONFIRMED CASES - To date, Mars Area School District has reported a total of 14 confirmed cases of Novel H1N1 Influeza at its schools. A letter regarding the initial confirmed case was sent home with students on Oct. 14. (To view the letter, click here.) At this time, the Pennsylvania Department of Health has advised the District that it is not necessary to close schools. Students are encouraged to continue attending school as long as they are not sick or exhibiting flu-like symptoms. Parents are asked not to send children to school if they are sick. Any children who are determined to be sick while at school will be sent home. Mars Area School District is continuing to work with the Pennsylvania Department of Health to monitor the situation and will make all future decisions in consultation with the department. For answers to Frequently Asked Questions regarding Novel H1N1 Influenza, click here.
  

• ONLINE LUNCH PAYMENT OPTIONS - Mars Area School District has implemented a new system for parents to check the status of their child's school breakfast and lunch accounts through myLunchMoney.com. A letter regarding the new program was sent home with students on Nov. 19. To view the letter, click here. For specific information, visit www.mylunchmoney.com.
  
  
• LUNCH ACCOUNT ACCESS - BIOMETRICS SCANNERS - Mars Area School District is implementing a new system at Mars Area High School and Mars Area Middle School ONLY that enables students to access their meal accounts by scanning the student's fingers. Note: The system does not store fingerprints or images of fingerprints. A letter regarding the system was sent home with students. To view the letter, click here. For more information, call (724) 625-1988 or click here.
  
  
• PlanetPASS - ADMISSION TO SPORTS EVENTS - Mars Area High School Athletic Office is replacing football and basketball season passes with the new PlanetPass. The PlanetPass may be used for up to 15 admissions to all Mars Area-sponsored games. PlanetPasses are available for purchase during regular school hours in the Athletic Office and in Room 123 at Mars Area Middle School. For more information and pricing, click here.
  
  
• SCHOOL VOLUNTEER POLICY - Mars Area School Board has approved  a new policy setting a procedure for conducting background checks on all school volunteers. For more information, click here.
  
  
• OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS - Mars Area School District asks that any requests for access to open records be made in writing and sent to: Lori Kennedy, Open Records Officer; Mars Area School District Administration Office, 545 Route 228, Mars, Pa. 16046. For more information, regarding Mars Area School District's Open Records Procedure, click here.
  
  
• USE OF FACILITIES - Community groups and/or sports organizations that plan to use a Mars Area School District facility must complete all "Use of Facilities" requirements in accordance with District policy. For more information regarding rental fees, procedures and restrictions, click here.
  
  
• REAL ESTATE TAX CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS - Mars Area School District is now accepting Real Estate Tax payments by credit card . Please note that a service fee of 2.5% of the payment amount, $3 minimum, applies to all credit card payments. Credit card payments will be accepted online at http://gov-pay.com/mars.
  
  
• TRANSPORTATION QUESTIONS? - Call Jane Roth, Mars Area School District Transportation Contact, at (724) 625-1507. For answers to frequently asked transportation questions, visit the District's "Transportation" page by clicking on the "Our District" tab at the top of this page, then on "Transportation" or click here.
  

For more District Notes, click here.

• 03/11/10 - District Receives Highmark Healthy High 5 Grant
• 03/04/10 - Work on High School Project Ahead of Schedule
• 02/25/10 - Discussions Continue Regarding Parks, Recreation Plan
• 02/25/10 - Middle School to Offer Online Language Course
• 02/04/10 - Work on High School Project Ahead of Schedule
• 01/28/10 - Group Discusses Options for Parks & Recreation Plan
• 01/14/10 - Board Approves 2010-2011 School Calendar
• 01/07/10 - Work on High School Project Continues

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